Aeroplane-propeller.



A. BEATY.

AEROPLANE PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1914.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH COHWASHINGTDN. D. c.

ARTHUR BEATY, OF SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE-PROPELLER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR BEATY, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Fernando, in: the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented a new and useful Aeroplane-Propeller, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to aeroplane propellers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a propeller which may be run at a high rate of speed without danger of being destroyed by centrifugal force, which will be very eflicient and light, and which will have a large area. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane propeller which will be automatically collapsed as it ceases to rotate, so that it will not retard the motion of the aeroplane through the air, or serve as a drag on it. i I

These objects are accomplished by using a thin sheet of flexible material such as canvas, this material being drawn into the extended operating position by means of the centrifugal force of heavy bodies which are attached to the periphery of the flexible material.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same embodiment. Fig. 3 is a section through the spring means. Fig. 4 is a small detail showing the method of connecting various memhere.

In these drawings a shaft 10 is driven from the aeroplane engine which is not shown. Fastened securely to this shaft are hubs 11, 12 and 13. Rigidly securedin the hub 11 are arms 14 and 15, and rigidly secured in the hub 12 are arms 16 and 17.

Flexible members 18 and 19 areformed pref? erably by cutting a canvas or balloon cloth member in the form of a. circular disk, and then dividing this disk into two se1ni-cir cular disks, thus forming the members 18 and 19. The semicircular disk 19 is secured at one end to the extreme tip of the arm 17 and at the other end to the extreme tip of the arm 14. The semicircular disk 18 is secured at one end to the extreme tip of the arm 15, and at the other end to the extreme tip of the arm 16. Two chain members 20 and 21 are provided these members being Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Get. 12, 1915 Application filed September 24, 1914. Serial No. 863,392.

formed of a plurality of links 22 secured together by pins 23, a small eye member 24; being secured to the links 22 adjacent to the pins 23. Small holes 25 are provided on the center of the links. The links 22 are secured to the disks 18 and 19 around the periphery thereof. Rigidly secured on the shaft 10 is a spring hub 27 to which is attached a spiral spring 28, the outer end, of this spring being secured to a. pulley 29, which rotates freely on the shaft 10. Se cured to this pulley 29 are a pair of cords 30. These cords extend out and pass around pulleys 31 which are secured to one of the links 22, the cords 30 then passing through the eyes 24, being finally secured to the links 22 which are adjacent to the end of the arms 15 and 16. A series of small cords 33 are secured in the holes 25 in the links 22, and extend down and are secured to a hub 34secured on the shaft 10. A series of guy wires 35-are secured in the eye members 24:, being connected at their other end to the hub 13.

The method of operation of the invention is as follows: The parts are shown in the drawing in their extended position, this be ing the position they assume when the propeller is in operation. As the shaft 10 is rotated, the centrifugal force of the chains 20 and 21 is suflicient to make these chains assume a semicircular position as shown in Fig. 1, the chains being restrained in this position by the cords 33 and by the disks 18 and 19. The disks 18 and 19 are further restrained in the planes shown in Fig. 2 by means of the guy wires 35. The centrifugal force is sufiicient to overcome the action of the spring 28 when the propeller is rotated Ma high rate of speed, but whenever the propeller speed falls below a certain critical value' the spring 28 rotates the pulley 29 pulling upon the cords 30 which pull the links 22 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. the disks 18 and 19 collapsing about the shaft when this occurs.

It will be seen that the propeller when extended hasa large area which is automatically contracted as the propeller slows down so that the propeller when stationary has a very small area, and will not drag upon the aeroplane.

I claim as my invention 1. A propeller conno'rising blades of flexible material, and heavy members secured to the periphery of said blades in such a manner as to hold the blades in their ex tended position by centrifugal force When the blades are rotated. 5

2. A. propeller comprising a shaft, arms rigidly secured to said shaft, blades of flexible material secured to said arms, and heavy members so secured to said blades as to hold them in the extended position by centrifugal force as the shaft is rotated.

3. A propeller comprising a shaft, arms rigidly secured to said shaft, blades of flexible material secured to said arms, and chains so secured to said blades as to hold them in the extended position by centrifugal force as the shaft is rotated. V

i. A propeller comprising a shaft, arms 7 rigidly securedto said shaft, blades of flexible material secured to said arms, a heavy, flexible member secured to the periphery of said'blades, and guy Wires for restraining said blades in their extended position.

5. A propeller comprising a shaft, arms rigidly secured to said shaft, blades of flexible material secured to said arms, a heavy flexible member secured to the periphery of said blades, means for drawing said flexible member approximately parallel to said arms, and guy Wiresfor restraining said blades in their extended position.

6. A rigidly secured to said shaft, blades offieX- ible material secured to said arms, a series Copies of this patent may be obtained for propeller comprising a. shaft, arms of linked members secured to the periphery of said blades, and guywire's for restraining said blades in their extended position.

7. A propeller comprising a shaft, arms rigidly secured to said shaft, blades of fleX- ible material secured tosa-id arms, a series of linked members secured to the periphery of said blades, means for drawing said linked members and said blades into their collapsed position, and guy wires for restraining said blades in their extended 'position. 7

'8. A propeller comprising a shaft, arms rigidly secured to said shaft, blades of ible material secured to said arms, a series of linked members secured to the periphery of said blades, a Wire cable'adapted to draw said linked members and said blades into their collapsed position, spring means for so drawing said cable Whenever the cent-rifugal force due to the rotation of said linked members falls below a certain amount, and guy Wires for restrainingsaid blades in their extended position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los' Angeles, California, this 17th day of September, 191%.

ARTHUR BEATY,

In presence of FRED A. MANSFIELD, FORD lV. Harms.

five cents each, by addressing the Gcmmiss ioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. r 

